Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-25
DOES RELIGION PAY?
THIS The TOPIC OF A DEDIcAT0RY
SERMON BY DR.. LAFFERTY.
Laurel Street Methodist Church Consecra.
ted 10 the Worship OF God
on Sunday.

on Sunday. There were three services
during the day. At II A. NJ. Rev. ).
s. Lambeth preached brilliant and
powerful sermon from Ephesian H.,
1922.
At the conclusion Of the discourse
Mr.. Wright, the pastor, asked the con-
gregation for $3.50, which amount, he
said, would pay all claims against the
building not already provided for. The
responses came in freely, but were for
small amounts. A letter from General
Joseph r. Anderson to Mr.. A. G.. Os-
terbfnd, chairman of the Board of
Trustees, congratulating the congrega-
ton on the completion of the church
and enclosing his check for $50, was
read. This contribution was the largest
received at the morning service.
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
At 3 J. NJ. the house was filed TO
overfowing to witness the formal dedl-
catOry exercises.
Rev. J. J. Laferty, d. d., preached
the sermon.
The theme Of DIR. Laffety's sermon
was Does Religion Pay?" and he
took his text from Malachi i'll, IA: sit
is vain thing to serve God, and what
profit is it that we have kept His ordi-
nances and that we have walked mourn
fully before the Lord of Host -
The Jews. said he. brought their religion to
the test Of the arithmetic The balance-shee.
failed 10 show profit The wheat, oil, ana
lambs sent 10 the iomple seemed IN excess ol
the returns They set themselves TO cut down
their offerings In quality II not In quantity.
They brought the lame. the blind, and bitten
Of the fiock-the unmarketable portion. The
modern churhman Of that type passes his
-lick ninepence and coin with hole In II. per
haps a brass button, into the hat
There was a contract between Israel ana
Jehovah God guaranteed protection. peace
and plenty. The jew undertook 10 keep up
supply Of fine wheat, and the nrstling OF me
herd without q spot or blemlsh. Default
brought invasion, famine. and plague. While
the affairs smoked with willing sacrifices God
kept watch on the confines OF Judea Inc IN
visible champion strobe through the valleys py
the mountains Of Moab over the crest 81
Lebanon. There was terror In the air "a the
vicwless warrior passed. The enemies OF Israel
-hrnuk away from the circiing path Of the un-
seen sandal.
When ingratitude and avArice retrenched al
the house OF God me llSkuhIfO lltli ilishtulth
the horremen and chariots. whose whirling
wheels the prophets servant saw in battle Ar
ray The Assyran rushed In " like the VOL on
the fold" Temple, cities, and people perlsheI
America Is the Canaan OF the continents As
Israel vas delivered out OF bondage Dya "hgh
hnnd.m 80 God wrought wonders for our fathers
lie raised up three natiOns-France, Spain, ana
Holland-tO fight our battles. Rivers rOse' me
Catawta and Nadkin, TO save the Ueelng army
Of The colonists CORVALLIS came TO his capitula-
.s-. AZ 4 AynnlIfA
gcrous conspiracy was discovered by the curl
osity Of skulkers from camp seizing Andre.
Judea was land OF milk and honey. of
wheat and oil Gods chosen people 1selt
among the grape. olive. and pomegranate. They
were set the task Of teaching the nations the
pure faith. America had no match in climate,
scenery. fatness Of soil. There was health m
The DIR, liberty In the laws. ana happiness III
every home. II was land without n begRar :;
taxation n tlifc: no vast army 20 conscr1pt the
sons and consume the substance; no PAM
percd class no hereditary estates, no royalty,
no pauper class hOnOrs open TO all, prlVll'grs
10 none. The scrf Of Europe became mil
lionaire IN America: the mule-driver on the
canal rose TO the Chief Magistracy OF the ma
ton. There Was no State church with its cruel
ties. cankcr, and cOrruptions to scandalize
Heaven Religious freedom was the watch
word.
Much was given: much was required. How
did We quit ourselves Of our high calling:
How did we use our abundance? When JACOB
was Door and n refugee. God blessed him WOr-
shipping under the roof OF Heaven. Mheh
Jacob increased in goods God required oi MN
"a house of prayer. In the pioneer days tho
uuceiled. unfenced. and unpainted chapel Wh-
the measure Of the ability Of The humble nO'k.
When we grew rich and "dwelt N houses OF
CEDAR" the Ark oi God was left III tents-a
mean and cramped structure. " no does not
recall the miserable meeting houses In rich
communities where In winter the snoep sought
shelter among the pcWs and the hogs pred
fleas beneath! From elegant homes, IN me
carriages the wurShippers went 10 these
shabby churches. Inferior 50 caitle-sheds M
comfort and appearance. Who does not re-
member that ten or twenty dollars wa
grudgingly dOled out once q year by Christians
paying taxes on quarter OF n mliloh ol
frCpertv or blush 10 know that members own
ing five million gave only salary OF toUr
hundred dollars 20 Is scholar and orator serving
their pulpit? Jonathan Edwards, the strongest
mind In America. hardly had bread 10 eat.
The county spent more for liquor than Tor
preaching: more for bounds than sunday
-chool4: more for circuses than for churches.
We forfeited the favor Of Heaven. God keeps
a ledger lie doesn't settle with individuals ot
nations like storskcepers at Christmas but lie
settles What we owed Him He collected the
princiIal bv the waste u war and the interest
OutOf our blood The billions Of theciyil conflict
would have put church in every neighDOrhOOd
sud gave the Gospel 10 every citlen
What profit In serving GOdT Its our national
nations. A republic is impossib lie without u.
America must be buttressed by the Bible or II
will perish. France was wrecked 10y inndehty.
The Bible was burned by the common hanginaii
and the Sabbath abolished by statute. Inc
glillotinc butchercd the best and braye=t The
streets Of Paris fOamcd with rivers oil the rch-
est blood.
There /, upon our horizon an angry cloud.
The anarchist has begun his work. We are
done with God Is his creed. II man Il only a
II. .s.f..r not
prey9 Why should not the savings Of trugality
aud Industry be the prizes Of this wolff Why
should the hungry hog respect the bars OF MS
neighb bOr's crib II the decalOgue Il delusloh ::
The boar's tusk Will cleave pain 10 me corn
and conhscatiOn. II private property T.
public robbery the deed-bOOks and the dOcu
ments in the muniment-rOOin OF the Capitol ar'
trash. The Church is the bulwark OF liberty
civilization. and property. Tho title to tn
cottage OF The frugal labOrer Is III the cothei
stone Of his chapel
There are warnings In that weird book in
the back Of the Sacred Writings. last al1
universal conflict Is pictured aud predicted. ~
j. social. not national war. The Beast ard
False Prophet muster Ou'. OF all tribes, count
less hest on the field Of ArmageddOn. They
sault Jerusalem the Holy. We can tell the
war-cly. The high priest Of tie criisai
breaches the " Gospel of Dirt and DarWlnls'n.
The Beast il rampant for rapine. How sig
nificant the words descriptive Of the arch emo
my of the Church. Anti-Chrlst IL the mysteT.
of lavle-sness.n the " laWless One.n The Niri-
list the rIad-dog Of society, with his poison aud
his bOmh. the mystery OF lawlessneS7' Is
abroad. The first nIing that Will grow INTO tAe
battle of Cog and Magoe has been heard.
lake courage. Christianity Is terrifying.
These sacred buildings are hastiOns. There j.
power here 10 hold the country for Christ. let
us do our duty. she shall not be- moved. Cc1
shall help her aud that right early
The same prophetic record that unveils ne
mighty onset of enemies Of God and man to-
veal also the outcome of the contest. Tire
Beast was taken. and with him the Fai-e
Prophet These both were east alive into Ia 2
Of Ore burning with birthstone
The sermon was followed by col
lection. The pastor stated that S3)U
were vet to ke raised in order to make
ND the sum asked for at the morning
services. About $3.50 was realized,
which with $500 raised at the morning
service. still left 5000 TO be raised t.
meet the indebtedness ON the work.
This amount the Building Committee
said they would undertake to raise al
the night service and by private appli.
cation to individual friends Of the enter
prise. ,
DR.. Garland then arose and said "
am informed that it is the wish of the
trustees of the church to present thi'
building to be dedicated to the service
of God Is this your wish?
The Board of Trustees then filed il
front of the chancel, facing the pulpit
and the chairman OF the Board, al
dressing DIR. Garland, said: ave pres